Bible Commentaries

Exodus 20:8-11 — only one of the Ten Commandments not reiterated for the church in the New Testament. Traditionally the church has celebrated the first day of the week as a memorial to Jesus Christ’s resurrection, which event is the ground of our rest (Romans 4:25). [Note: See Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, "The Sabbath Controversy," Biblical Research Monthly 49:4 (July-August 1984):15-16; Gerhard Hasel, "The Sabbath in the Pentateuch," in The Sabbath in Scripture and History, pp. 21-43; and Merrill

Nehemiah 9:1-4 — The preparations for prayer 9:1-4 Two days after the solemn assembly (Nehemiah 8:18), the people were still mourning over their sins (Nehemiah 9:1). This was a genuine spiritual revival. In obedience to God’s Law the people broke off forbidden alliances with non-Jews (cf. Deuteronomy

Psalms 149:6-9 — 3. A way to rejoice in the Lord 149:6-9 The Lord’s will for Israel was that she overcome and defeat God’s enemies on the earth. This would establish righteousness in the world and exalt the God of Israel as the sovereign Lord (cf. Deuteronomy 32:1-6; Deuteronomy 32:23; Joshua

Psalms 37:32-40 — 4. The conflict between the wicked and the righteous 37:32-40

Song of Solomon 1:4 — The last three lines of Song of Solomon 1:4 were evidently the words of the "daughters of Jerusalem" (Song of Solomon 1:5; cf. Song of Solomon 2:7; Song of Solomon 3:5; Song of Solomon 3:10; Song of Solomon 5:8; Song of Solomon 5:11; Song of Solomon 5:16; Song of Solomon 8:4). These

Isaiah 36:3 — time, since Eliakim was now the prime minister and Shebna was the secretary, a lower position. This may be true, or the exaltation of Eliakim and the humiliation of Shebna may have come later. The point of the Rabshakeh’s first speech (Isaiah 36:4-10) was that there is no salvation in faith; no deliverance would come from trusting Yahweh. Judah should surrender because Egypt would not help her (Isaiah 36:6), Yahweh would not help her (Isaiah 36:7), she did not have enough military manpower to

Jeremiah 15:9 — The woman who had had a perfect family and complete happiness would become so sad that she would hardly be able to breathe (cf. 1 Samuel 2:5; Ruth 4:15). It would be as though the day of her rejoicing ended at noon. Her sunshine disappeared at noon with the death(s) of her son(s). She would have no heirs and comforters in her old age (cf. Jeremiah 14:3-4). It is possible that Jeremiah was personifying

Jeremiah 4:5-10 — The sounding of the alarm that invasion was coming 4:5-10

Jeremiah 50:33-34 — Presently the Israelites and Judahites were oppressed, and their captors would not let them go, but their Redeemer (Heb. go’el), Yahweh Almighty, was strong (cf. Exodus 6:6; Exodus 7:4-5; Exodus 9:1-3; Exodus 9:13-17; Exodus 10:3; Exodus 15:13). He would plead their case vigorously by contending with their enemy. Formerly, Yahweh had brought charges against His people as a prosecutor (Jeremiah 2:9), but in the future He would act

Daniel 10:4-9 — Daniel’s vision of the man by the Tigris river 10:4-9

Daniel 2:17-23 — 4. Daniel’s reception of a revelation and his thanksgiving 2:17-23

Hosea 6:4-11 — Lack of loyalty 6:4-11 This section stresses Israel’s covenant disloyalty to Yahweh.

Matthew 13:34-35 — The fulfillment of prophecy 13:34-35 (cf. Mark 4:33-34)

Matthew 16:1-4 — The renewed demand for a sign 16:1-4 (cf. Mark 8:11-12)

Luke 17:1-4 — 1. The prevention of sin and the restoration of sinners 17:1-4

Acts 14:21 — 4. Paul and Barnabas’ return to Antioch of Syria 14:21-28

Colossians 3:20-21 — 2. Children and parents 3:20-21 (cf. Ephesians 6:1-4)

1 Peter 4:6 — Because everyone will give account of his life to God (1 Peter 4:5), Christians preach the gospel. We do so to enable people to give that account joyfully rather than sorrowfully (cf. 1 John 2:28). In Peter’s day Christians had preached the gospel to other people who had become Christians who had already died.

1 John 4:12 — Whenever we love one another we make it possible for God to "abide" in close fellowship with us. Furthermore God’s love reaches a fullness and depth in us that is possible only when we love one another. It attains its full flower (1 John 4:19). There are three stages of God’s love in 1 John. These stages are love manifested to the world (1 John 4:9), love given to the family of God (1 John 3:1), and love perfected in a smaller group within this family (i.e., those who abide in God,

Revelation 1:4 — (modern western Turkey). Since this book deals mainly with future events, John described the divine Author as God (the Father) who is, was, and is to come. This title occurs nowhere else in the Bible except in Revelation (Revelation 1:8; Revelation 4:8; cf. Revelation 11:17; Revelation 16:5; Exodus 3:14-15). This description stresses the continuity of God’s sovereign dealings with humankind. The phrase "seven Spirits" may refer to seven principal angelic messengers (cf. Revelation